Early years

Ailey was born to his 17-year-old mother, Lula Elizabeth Ailey, in Rogers, Texas. His father, also named Alvin, abandoned the family when Alvin was only six months old. Like many African Americans living in Texas during the Great Depression, Ailey and his mother moved often and had a hard time finding work.

Julian Rice

Julian Rice, he was a bad loser - ooo yes he was, ooo yes he wasAfter a price, he was a big dealerHe had to cheat, to meet his bills - ooo yes he did, ooo yes he didOooo - oh, yeah - he had to cheat !Julian's wife, was a show stopper - ooo yes she was, ooo yes she wasAll of her life, she made blue moviesShe had to cheat, to meet her needs - ooo yes she did, ooo yes she didOooo - oh, yeah - she had to cheat !Oh yeah, Julian's wife....my, my, my, my.....Julian's wifeJulian Rice, he went down to the boozer - to spend his roll, oh yes he didJulian's wife, she walked in - a big teaser !She had to be there to grab her stud, ooo yes she didShe took him back, and he walked - oh !

Early years

Ailey was born to his 17-year-old mother, Lula Elizabeth Ailey, in Rogers, Texas. His father, also named Alvin, abandoned the family when Alvin was only six months old. Like many African Americans living in Texas during the Great Depression, Ailey and his mother moved often and had a hard time finding work.

Renaldo Garner, SSDA associate director and artistic consultant, in a photo from his days with the AlvinAileyDance Co ... Renaldo Garner, SSDA associate director and artistic consultant, in a photo from his days with the AlvinAiley Dance Co ... In his junior year, Gardner received a scholarship to the AlvinAiley company and danced as a member for 10 years....

“Now, I don’t know any of your names,” Tim Henderson told the group of 41 kids seated in a circle. “So on the count of three, I want everyone to say your name as loud as you can. 1, 2, 3.”. “MARKATHYDONTEDARJADESHELLANTEKIM!” ... “It’s a community for them to talk about it or not talk about it. It’s just, ‘You’re not alone ... Typically they meet for a pizza party and a performance; last year they watched the AlvinAileyAmericanDance Theater ... ....

Tina KnowlesLawson is walking me through her art collection on a bright Friday afternoon ... Lawson long believed she’d never leave Galveston, but when she was 14, a female friend took her to Houston to see the AlvinAiley dance company ... I discovered then how important [art] is for your home ... C ... The first trip Lawson took with the “angels,” she says, was to see a performance by the AlvinAileyAmericanDance Theater....